- Born
- 6 February 1945, Nine Mile, Jamaica
- First work
- 1962: Judge Not
- Peak
- 1973 to 1980 (estimated)
- Last work
- 1980: Uprising
- Died
- 11 May 1981, Miami, United States; aged 36; illness
Bob Marley
Music: singer, songwriter, guitarist, Jamaica
Bob Marley was a Jamaican singer, songwriter and guitarist who became the global ambassador of reggae music. Born in rural Nine Mile in 1945, he formed the Wailers in Kingston in the early 1960s, evolving from ska and rocksteady into deeply spiritual roots reggae underpinned by his Rastafari faith. Landmark albums such as Catch a Fire and Exodus brought international acclaim and articulated messages of freedom, unity and resilience. Marley's charismatic presence and soulful delivery elevated him to worldwide cultural significance before his career was tragically curtailed by cancer. He passed away in Miami in May 1981 at the age of thirty-six.
Who else was born on 6 February or who died on 11 May.
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Signature works
- Simmer Down song1963
- Catch a Fire album1973
- No Woman, No Cry song1974
- Exodus album1977
- Waiting in Vain song1977
- Kaya album1978
- Redemption Song song1980
Honours
- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, 1994
- Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, 2001
- Hollywood Walk of Fame, 2001
Groups: Bob Marley & The Wailers, The Upsetters.